"It's been a long time... and if you say too long, you are damned right! Well, there is not really one overall reason for this absence; it's more or less a combination of smaller and bigger things in the life of the individual band members. But there's been one thing for sure, that struck all of us at the same time: the separation from Thomen. This hit us right in the middle of the first songwriting process for the follow up album and - as you may imagine - was not really a boost to our creativity. This had to be "digested" for a while…

While "digesting" in Umea, Sweden a lot of things did happen. Jens and Emilio got involved in the annual House Of Metal Festival (where SC played in 2007). This is quite a lot of stuff to take care for and indeed is time consuming. Yet another quite time consuming activity can be reported from Jens: he built a house! And nevertheless Emilio has encountered the maybe by far most time consuming thing in the world: the man got married! Congratulations and welcome to the club!

As posted on the official Evergrey site, due to unforeseen logistical issues, the Evergrey show scheduled for March 12 in Atlanta has been postponed until Friday, May 29th. Both the band and HoS Productions have explored all options in an attempt to salvage the situation. However, it was simply impossible given the constraints of the issues involved that normally are not an issue. We deeply apologize for the inconvenience and frustration regarding theshow as everyone involved was looking forward to the special show that was planned.

Tickets purchased for the original date will be honored at the later date or refundable via Ticket Alternative.

Commented the band: "We are so fucking sorry for not being able to play, but the rules of USA's immigration prevents us from doing so. Normally this has never been a problem as the paperwork has always been swift enough, but now, for some reason we have yet to be approved.

"We recently recorded music. Examine photographs of this process here. More recording will commence soon in Oakland and Los Angeles. Sooner than you think we will present some new shit to the masses. Album cover is in the works courtesy of the superb Tim Lehi.

Friday April 3 at the Elbo Room in San Francisco we will play much new material. This will be the only Bay Area show for some time. Scarecrow and Dusted Angel will be destructing this evening with us. Soon after this we will go defile Europe. Then we will do other things to be spoken of later.

We are also very fucking stoked to announce a license in Japan via Red Cobalt Industries. They will issue a die-hard version of "Into Abaddon" with new artwork and other goodies. Derrick Snodgrass is adminstering the new design. We will destroy Japan with live drums and guitars and amplifiers in early 2010!"

"I've been busy the last few months and have completed two songs already for the next album. I will release more details on the new album as things become more concrete. I hope to get it out fairly quickly before the end of the year, as "Beyond The North Winds" has done very well and received great reviews, and I want to capitalize on the momentum.

I also took the time to record a cover song (after I swore I would never do one, never say never I suppose...). It is for the Valhalla Productions Bathory tribute, which is only viking-era Bathory songs. I decided to do "Song to Hall Up High", as I don't think its a song that's really been covered much, and I was able to do something a little different with it. There is no point in doing a cover song if all you are going to do is re-do the original. I have no idea what's going on with Valhalla, and if this tribute will see the light of day. If not, I'm sure the song will get MySpace'd here or tagged on to the next album or a re-release of my older albums.

The ongoing battle Infernus has been pursuing against Gaahl & King Ov Hell regarding trademark rights of the name "Gorgoroth" appear to have come to an end. A message posted on Infernus' myspace website reads as follows:

"Oslo City District Court has today delivered a verdict on the main question in the Gorgoroth trademark case, which took place at the end of January 2009. The court has decided that King ov Hell's trademark registration # 243365 of the band name Gorgoroth is NOT valid and shall therefore be deleted. The court states that King ov Hell and Gaahl excluded themselves from the band Gorgoroth when they tried to fire Infernus in October 2007. The court further states that Infernus cannot be excluded from Gorgoroth, unless he himself decides to quit. Infernus is very pleased, but not surprised, by this verdict. The remaining issues concerning financial matters and such are yet to be decided upon."

7Hard is proud to announce the signing of the Heavy Metal Band StoneLake from Sweden.

All the people who used to listen to Heavy Metal during the 80-90s will like the new album "Shades of Eternity" for sure. Release date May 2009! All the recordings are done, just the final mixing and mastering are left. The album is recorded/Produced/Mixed and mastered at Unlimited Music Production Studios in Furulund Sweden by Jan Åkesson. Artwork will be done by Carl André Beckston.

Mens Rea, the Israeli Hard Rock/Grunge group, have filmed another new video. The new video clip for the band's 2nd single, entitled "Talentless", is now available. The video consists of live photos of the band's shows over the last year and a half. The video was created by Itay Miron and features pictures of Sigal Izak.

Part I: Singularity In The Making
01. Oblivion
02. End User
03. Techcceleration (The Machine Speaks)
04. Here Comes the Rain Again

Part II: Endgame
05. Fade Out
06. Unbelievable (The Mind Speaks)
07. Dethroned
08. How Were We Supposed To Know?

Part III: The Machine Kind
09. Every Day (The Body Speaks)
10. Transcend
11. The Past (The Heart Speaks)

Already garnering attention for their cover of the Eurythmics "Here Comes The Rain Again" Autumnhour combines a unique blend of metal, hard rock, and progressive music with a lyrical concept about a mechanized future.

American avantgarde black metallers Nachtmystium team up with experimental vocalist Jarboe (ex-Swans) for the "The Mahakali Assassins Tour", in support of their latest albums "Assassins - Black Meddle Part I" and "Mahakali" respectively. The itinerary of this tour, featuring 17 dates in 12 European countries with more to be announced, reads as follows:

The time has come: In March 2009 the Austrian Black Metal legends Dornenreich will tour in Metal line-up for the very first time since 2001. To present their DVD "Nachtreisen" ("Nocturnal Journeys") and as a herald of their forthcoming studio album "Flammentriebe" ("The Urge of the flame") Dornenreich will debut songs of this album and they will play numerous songs of their 13-year history on this much longed for tour.

Dornenreich's friends Agalloch will join this special journey, which will be the only European Tour for Agalloch and their unique "Cascadian Dark Metal" in 2009. It will be Agalloch's last tour supporting "Ashes Against The Grain".